RTX Validates 360° Protection in Latest Air and Missile Defense Sensor Trial

Raytheon, an RTX business, has marked another milestone in the evolution of air and missile defense technology. The company successfully carried out a demanding flight test of its Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS), showcasing the radar’s ability to deliver continuous 360-degree coverage against complex, representative threats. This latest success comes on the heels of LTAMDS receiving its Milestone C designation—a key decision by the U.S. Army that moves the system from the prototype stage into full production and deployment.

A Step Toward Operational Deployment

During the test, LTAMDS worked in tandem with the U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) and guided a PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor to neutralize a challenging airborne target. This demonstration was not just about target tracking; it was designed to prove LTAMDS’ seamless integration with the Large Tactical Power Source (LTPS)—a new power supply designed to unlock the radar’s full operational potential.

With LTPS, LTAMDS gains the energy capacity needed to extend its sensing range, manage more simultaneous tracks, and ensure continuous coverage even in high-intensity battlespace environments. This test validated that the system can operate at full strength, which is essential for countering today’s increasingly sophisticated missile threats.

Expanding the Battlespace

Unlike legacy radar systems, LTAMDS is built with three active radar arrays that provide all-directional sensing. This design is crucial for modern conflicts where adversaries employ a mix of weapons and tactics, often launching massive, coordinated attacks involving drones, advanced aircraft, and an array of missile types—ballistic, cruise, and even hypersonic.

By leveraging advanced digital technologies and high-power capability, LTAMDS allows operators to monitor, identify, and engage threats approaching from any direction, ensuring no blind spots on the battlefield. With nine successful flight tests now completed, each progressively more complex, Raytheon has steadily demonstrated that LTAMDS is fully capable of handling the real-world challenges modern militaries face.

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Meeting the Demand for Modern Defense

Raytheon leaders emphasize that LTAMDS is not just a radar—it is a transformational leap in defense capability. “LTAMDS’ 360-degree full-sector sensing capabilities specifically address massive, coordinated attacks from adversaries,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “As international demand grows, Raytheon continues to invest in our production capacity to quickly deliver this critical capability to customers.”

The company is responding to a global environment where missile threats are becoming more prevalent and technologically advanced. By accelerating its production capacity, Raytheon aims to ensure timely delivery to the U.S. Army as well as international customers seeking to modernize their air and missile defense networks.

From U.S. Army Record to Global Expansion

In April 2025, LTAMDS reached a significant program milestone when the U.S. Army officially designated it as a program of record, confirming its place as the future radar of choice for lower-tier air and missile defense missions. This designation not only secures LTAMDS within the U.S. military’s modernization roadmap but also signals confidence in its readiness for large-scale deployment.

International interest has been swift. Poland became the first international customer in 2024, integrating LTAMDS into its national defense architecture as part of broader modernization efforts. Several other nations are now evaluating or preparing acquisition plans, recognizing the radar’s value in providing comprehensive protection against advanced aerial threats.

Raytheon is making substantial capital investments in infrastructure, workforce, and supply chain capabilities to meet this surge in demand. These efforts are intended to ensure that LTAMDS can be produced at scale while maintaining the high performance standards required for modern air defense systems.

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Shaping the Future of Integrated Air Defense

The successful completion of the latest flight test reinforces LTAMDS’ role in shaping the future of integrated air and missile defense. By combining high-power performance, 360-degree coverage, and seamless integration with systems like IBCS, the radar ensures a layered defense that can keep pace with evolving threats.

As the U.S. Army transitions LTAMDS from development into deployment and international partners line up for adoption, the radar is poised to become a cornerstone technology in protecting both national and allied airspace. With global tensions driving demand for stronger and more reliable defense solutions, LTAMDS arrives at a pivotal moment—offering militaries the ability to detect, track, and defeat threats in the most complex environments.

In just a few years, what began as an ambitious prototype is now moving into full production, proving itself through rigorous testing and operational validation. With each successful intercept, Raytheon’s LTAMDS underscores its promise: delivering unmatched 360-degree protection in the face of tomorrow’s most pressing security challenges.